Comments on: Ubuntu at Best Buy: Package Details

By: pleia2

pleia2 — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 05:07:58 +0000

Hi V Jean – you can get tshirts at the official ubuntu stores:

http://shop.ubuntu.com/

By: V Jean

V Jean — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 03:09:05 +0000

I just loaded Ubuntu on my other harddrive because windows finally broke down. I can load all my windows programs on it with “Wine” – an open source software created by the Ubuntu community. I am a graphic designer, and Photoshop won’t work on Windows anymore, because it is an older version. So this was the best fix for me, to load it on Ubuntu using Wine. I feel very liberated. I want to wear Ubuntu t-shirts and get a Ubuntu laptop carrying case for my laptop. : ) Any suggestions on where to buy them?

By: bts

bts — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 14:20:33 +0000

also, i’d pick up a copy just to see the $ go to Valuesoft, because that means they can train their support staff better (which, invariably, means that our LoCo irc channels etc. are less flooded with support requests and can instead talk about more fun things. like beer and karaoke. and more beer.)

By: Talos

Talos — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 01:22:00 +0000

To Ruby,

No, I definetely don’t agree, although some linux users will buy it just to have a nice package instead of a burned ISO, most of the buyers will be newbies, who might buy it while shopping. Perhaps these newbies don’t have broadband, so this option could be ideal for them.

By: Ruby

Ruby — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 00:48:54 +0000

Ha ha ha. This just proves what I’ve always said. The only ones stupid enough to buy Linux, are the ones already using it!

By: Talos

Talos — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 09:08:09 +0000

The packaging/text/manual need a few tweaks… most importantly, they never ever mention “linux”… I don’t find that fair. Like Ubuntu = Linux… and they mention Anti-virus program Avast comes along… not really a smart thing to do… while promoting linux, one should not mention any anti virus programs… (they can mention that in the booklet, for those who want to run antivirus programs… but not on the packaging.)

By: ValentineS

ValentineS — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:50:38 +0000

Actually, Since best buy isn’t making the product, there are still costs involved, just one or two less than normal. Best Buy pays ~ $3-12 per unit, depending on contract, volume, etc. which is what they pay for most software products in the $20 range. They also pay fixed expenses just like any other company selling any other product, which are built into the cost of operations, total inventory costs, etc.
ValueSoft has costs including paying for the mass production (packaging, labels, shrink wrap, mass CD manufacturing, etc.) plus marketing, sales and office staff, and tech support staff. Many positions may be only one or two people, but they still need to be paid. Plus, if they have a call center, you have phone lines to pay for (or skype subscriptions) multi-line business phones, etc. etc.
The advantage of the product being Open Source is the elimination of paying the developer licensing costs, some legal fees, and one or two minor expenses. Even still, they are still paying Canonical something for trademark use and support, so even then the free software is still offset by other costs.

Still, I fully support what they’re doing. Looks like I’ll be going to Best Buy soon to show my support through my wallet.

,ValentineS

By: Matt

Matt — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 04:37:26 +0000

ha, another day I’m proud to be an ubuntu user….sadly enough the fact that they charge money and have a guide is probably enough to convince my friends to switch…at which point I can make fun of them for paying 22 bucks for 0.

I gotta say, best buy is making a killing there. Near infinite profit margin!

By: ruddiger

ruddiger — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 23:12:57 +0000

Everyone go to Best Buy, Take them off the bottom shelf and put them where people can see them. ie in front of the windows boxes.

By: Dylan McCall

Dylan McCall — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 19:05:44 +0000

Not impressed by their guide in the first page of the instruction booklet. I rarely encounter a BIOS where pressing F1 brings up choice of boot device. More often, there are instructions at the bottom of the first screen for how to choose the boot device. (Such as to press F10). Furthermore, the instructions do not say what to do after getting to the boot device choice screen. Oh, and that direction is redundant; it gets repeated much more clearly in the Troubleshooting section.
Cute pictures, though. It could be great!

That screenshot on the back of the box was poorly chosen. The Compiz cube effect alone is not exactly a major selling point, particularly when seen aboard a rather ugly looking computer. It just looks confusing and “techy”. That isn’t even a default desktop setup; it has Conky and a wallpaper from elsewhere.
Also, “Firefox” was should not have the second “f” capitalized. Being “tabbed” should not be in the same line of thinking as being “easy”, since the term “tabbed” will do nothing but have someone think “huh?!”, completely negating the previous point.

Hm… and “Click the question mark” is not exactly a nice way to lead someone who needs help finding the help centre. That should be more along the lines of “the question mark a little bit over from the top left of the screen when you log in to Ubuntu”.

Regrettably, I expect confused users.

Cool, though! Thanks for all the detail, Elizabeth.